IN AN AFRICAN JUNGLE.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 April 1932, Page 16 (Supplement)

IN AN AFRICAN JUNGLE.

Wanted; Young person to accompany novelist on a journey to African jungle, apply J. S. Jones, Esq., ’phone LK1642. Glancing through the paper I saw the above notice.

Oh, how my heart thrilled when I thought I would answer this advertisement! With this thought hi my head, I walked over to the phone and asked for LK1642. I had no sooner asked for the number than: “Hello! Who’s speaking?” Plucking up courage, I said, “Jerry Jones, sir.” And then he said: “Meet me to-morrow, 10.30 a.m. We leave on Wednesday. Meet me at St. James’.” “B-b-but, sir,” I began when I was cut off.

The next day I met my future employer. He was a. tall, miserable-looking man of about 49. His glossy black hair and prominent white teeth made him very remarkable. “Your passage has been booked first class,” he said. “Have you any suitable light clothing with you now, as you will be unable to return home before we leave to-morrow?” “No,” I said nervously. "Then come with me.”

I followed him down the street until we reached a certain shop, where he stopped, and told me to go and get a light suit. “Tell them to put it down to J. 8. Jones,” he said.

The following day, being Wednesday, our voyage began,. Day after day we saw only water and sky. Occasionally we ran into a storm, when the waves would moan and groan mournfully, and the huge billows froth like yeast. At last, after three weeks’ tedious travelling, we reached our destination. When I stood on dry land again the very earth itself ‘seemed to rock like a boat. We stayed in Durban for a few days, and then proceeded to the jungle. We settled in the heart of a dense jungle, and were on a hunting station with 20 others. One day we went gorilla hunting. While we were out Jones shot a huge gorilla. After a pause of about five seconds we heard a terrific roar, accompanied by what we thought to be the beating of a drum. Then there appeared a huge gorilla, who was thumping his chest incessantly, and chattering fiercely. He rushed over, seized our victim, and ran off. Oh, horrors! He came back and grasped J. S. Jones, Esq., and ran off with him. Mechanically and without thought, I turned and ran into the densest part

of the jungle. After about ah hour I returned to the fatal spot, only to find my companions gone. I had no food with me, and was panic-stricken by the thought of being lost ir. this i.rrible jungle. ' Cold beads of perspiration stood on my brow, my heart thumped, and I shivered all over as I heard a lion roar in the distance. I was-afraid to breathe or move a hair’s jbr.eadth for fear of running into Some dreaded inhabitant of this African jungle. u Looking above me I could see ferocious eyes watching me from the entangled lianas and coconut trees., I took a step forward, and paused as—

thump! Something hit my back. Turning round I saw a large coconut lying beside me.- Once again my eyes were raised to a canopy of entanglement above me. As I raised my head I felt a hand grasp my shoulder, sending cold shivers alb up and down my spine. Half turning round, I saw a monkey swinging by his tail from a nearby tree. I made up my mind then and there to climb into one of the-trees-for safety. I reached the top, when an unseen person pushed me, and.l fell down — down —down .to find,. on reaching the bottom that I had gone, to sleep reading the “wanted” column in the paper.